Is this normal?

1062 Views 7 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Bert H, Sep 30, 2008

flora

Discussion Starter · Sep 27, 2008

I planted my tank about one week ago. I have Co2 going via a Nutra-system set-up. I have developed some green stringy algae, but added some extra Excel and it seems to be going away. I think I made the mistake of adding ferts too soon. It is a mix that contains, boron, magnesium sulfate, potasium nitrate, potasium sulfate and other trace elements. I added less than a 1/4 capful almost everyday up until the algae started to develope. My plants do look pretty healthy. My question is, is it normal for roots to be growing out of my stem plants? I don't mean at the bottom of the plant! I mean from the sides of the stem like under the leaves. Also, I'm going to wait to add any more ferts for a few days. Am going to do a water change tonight too. My other question is , does this fertilizer sound ok? Thank you for any help!

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davemonkey

· #2 · Sep 27, 2008

Every tank will go through a period where algae is a problem when starting off...unless you use a method such as this:
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/fertilizing/54943-how-start-new-aquarium.html

Make sure you are dosing a good diet of macros and micros to your plants and supply carbon (CO2 or excel) . This will help keep the algae in check (as well as the excel treatments).

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flora

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 27, 2008

Thank you, but is it normal for the roots to be growing from the sides of the stem plants? I know it probably is a stupid question. Can I cut the plant underneath the roots and just plant it in my substrate?

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davemonkey

· #4 · Sep 27, 2008

flora said:
Thank you, but is it normal for the roots to be growing from the sides of the stem plants? I know it probably is a stupid question. Can I cut the plant underneath the roots and just plant it in my substrate?

Sorry, I forgot to answer that.

Yes, it's normal. That's another way they can take up nutrients very quickly out of the water column. You can certainly cut the plants at those nodes and replant the tops. Stems that have roots on them will grow faster when you plant them than stems that don't.

-Dave

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flora

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 27, 2008

Thank you again! Thats really cool! This gets better and better by the day!

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skg22086

· #6 · Sep 27, 2008

it's normal i have it too.. it's just the original root probably died and the plant need to grow new ones. ..... .

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davemonkey

· #7 · Sep 28, 2008

skg22086 said:
it's normal i have it too.. it's just the original root probably died and the plant need to grow new ones. ..... .

um, no. :suspiciou

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Bert H

· #8 · Sep 30, 2008

flora said:
Thank you, but is it normal for the roots to be growing from the sides of the stem plants? I know it probably is a stupid question. Can I cut the plant underneath the roots and just plant it in my substrate?

Yes it is normal for stem plants to grow these roots, which are called 'aerial roots'. Some stemmies grow them much more than others. You can trim a stem plant and replant the top with or without the roots showing. They will grow more roots from the bottom of the stem you have replanted whether roots are showing at time of planting or not.

Water column nutrient uptake is something all aquatics do through their leaves.

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